Guides
Antidetect Browser vs VPN vs Incognito (2026): Who Can Still See You?
The short answer: who can still see what?
The three tools protect against different observers. This table is the quickest way to see the difference.
| Who is looking | Incognito window | VPN | Antidetect profile + proxy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Another person using this PC | Hidden: history isn't kept after the window closes (downloads and bookmarks stay) | Not hidden: a VPN doesn't change what your browser stores | Not its purpose: each profile keeps its own data on your PC |
| Your Wi-Fi owner, school, employer or internet provider | Not hidden: they may still observe your activity | Hidden: they see an encrypted link to the VPN, not which sites you visit | Partly: they see the proxy connection; a proxy doesn't encrypt by default |
| The website you visit | Still sees your IP address and your browser's characteristics | Sees the VPN's IP instead of yours; still sees your browser's characteristics and cookies | Sees the proxy's IP, plus the profile's own browser settings and cookies |
| Advertisers and trackers | Cookies end with the session, but fingerprinting still works | No effect on cookies or fingerprinting | Each profile has separate cookies and looks like its own browser |
| The VPN or proxy provider | Not applicable | Sees all your traffic | Can see which sites you connect to |
| The platform you log in to | Knows who you are once you log in | Knows who you are once you log in | Knows who you are once you log in; separate profiles keep different accounts apart |
Incognito mode: what it hides and what it doesn't
Google's help page is blunt about the limits. After you close an Incognito window, Chrome doesn't keep your browsing history or site data on the device. But websites you visit, and organisations that manage your network, such as a school, an employer or an internet provider, may still observe your activity.
So incognito is useful for one thing: not leaving traces on a shared device. It is not a privacy tool against the outside world.
VPN: what it hides and what it doesn't
A VPN encrypts the connection between your device and the VPN provider, so the local network and your internet provider can't see which sites you visit. Websites see the VPN's IP address instead of yours.
EFF's guide adds the caveats. The VPN provider can see all of your traffic, so you are moving trust, not removing it. And a VPN is not an anonymity tool: cookies, tracking pixels and fingerprinting can still identify you.
Antidetect browser: what it does
An antidetect browser is built around profiles. Each profile is a separate browser environment with its own cookies, storage and device settings, and its own proxy. A website therefore sees a different browser and a different address for each profile, and accounts don't share identifiers.
What it doesn't do: it doesn't encrypt your traffic, it doesn't make you invisible, and it doesn't replace the rules of the platforms you use. It is a tool for keeping accounts apart (see What is a browser profile?). The address part comes from a proxy (proxy types explained).
Side by side
| Feature | Incognito | VPN | Antidetect profiles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Changes the IP address sites see | No | Yes | Yes, through a proxy set per profile |
| Encrypts your traffic | No | Yes, up to the VPN provider | Not by itself (HTTPS still encrypts page content) |
| Keeps history off this device | Yes | No | No: each profile keeps its own data |
| Separate cookies per account | Only for one window session | No | Yes, per profile |
| Changes how your browser looks to a site | No | No | Yes: each profile has its own device and browser settings |
| Run several accounts side by side | No | No | Yes, that is its purpose |
| Typical cost | Free | Subscription | Software plan plus proxies |
The blind spots all three share
- Fingerprinting. EFF explains that a fingerprint comes from your browser's configuration and settings, not from cookies or your IP, so clearing cookies doesn't help. Incognito and a VPN leave it untouched.
- WebRTC and DNS leaks. RFC 8828 describes how WebRTC can expose addresses, including addresses outside a VPN or proxy path. Test for leaks whatever tool you use.
- Being logged in. Once you sign in, the platform knows the account. No tool changes that.
- Your own habits. Reusing the same email, phone number or payment method across accounts links them regardless of the tool.
Which one do you need?
Can you combine them?
Yes, because they work at different layers. A VPN protects the connection on untrusted Wi-Fi. Incognito leaves no history on a shared PC. Antidetect profiles keep accounts apart. Inside an antidetect setup the IP usually comes from a per-profile proxy rather than a VPN, because every profile needs its own address.
Try it yourself in ten minutes
- Open EFF's Cover Your Tracks in your normal browser and note the result.
- Open it again in an incognito window. Compare.
- Turn on a VPN and test again, and look up your IP address.
- Open the same test inside a profile that uses its own proxy.
You will see that the IP address changes with a VPN or proxy, while the browser's characteristics change only when the browser environment itself changes.
Where ADSSPEED fits
ADSSPEED is the antidetect part of this picture.
- Profiles. Many browser profiles and Android phone profiles in one app, each with its own device configuration and its own proxy.
- Data stays with you. According to the product page, your data stays on your own machine and cookies aren't sent to a server.
- Built for accounts you manage. Open, stop and assign proxies to many profiles at once, which suits agencies and operations teams.
Frequently asked questions
Does incognito mode hide my IP address?
No. Chrome's own help page says that websites you visit, and organisations that manage your network such as your school, employer or internet provider, may still observe your activity in Incognito. A VPN or proxy is what changes the IP address a website sees.
Is incognito mode the same as a VPN?
No. Incognito stops your browser from keeping history and site data on your device after you close the window. A VPN encrypts your connection to the VPN provider and changes your visible IP address. They do different jobs.
Does a VPN stop browser fingerprinting?
No. EFF notes that cookies and fingerprinting can still track you while a VPN is on. Fingerprinting relies on your browser's configuration, so changing the IP address alone doesn't change it.
Do I need a VPN with an antidetect browser?
Usually not. Each profile in an antidetect browser needs its own address, so the IP normally comes from a proxy set per profile. A VPN still makes sense on untrusted Wi-Fi, as a separate layer.
Can websites tell that I use a VPN or an antidetect browser?
Sometimes. IP ranges of VPN and hosting providers are publicly attributable, and unusual browser settings can stand out. No tool offers a guarantee, so treat any promise of being undetectable with suspicion.
Is an antidetect browser legal?
The software is lawful in most places; what matters is how you use it. Legitimate uses include agencies managing client accounts, e-commerce operations and QA testing. Follow each platform's terms and your local laws. This is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
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